Download Asilidae, robber flies

Beneficial Insects
Class Insecta, Insects
Order Diptera, Flies, gnats, and midges
Diptera means “two wings,” and true flies bear only one pair of functional wings. Flies are one of the largest insect groups, with
approximately 35 families that contain predatory or parasitic species. All flies have piercing/sucking/sponging mouthparts.
Robber flies
Family Asilidae
Description and life history: Robber flies are medium
to large, hairy, fast flying insects with a hollowed area
between their eyes and a beard. Most species have an
elongated humped body with a slender tapering abdomen. Most species are gray, brown or black, while some
resemble bumblebees or are very slender like damselflies.
Prey species: Adult robber flies are highly aggressive
generalist predators, attacking prey often larger than
themselves. They feed on butterflies, wasps, bees, dragonflies, grasshoppers, beetles and other flies. Larvae live in
the soil and decaying wood and are also predatory. They
feed primarily on soft-bodied insects, some specializing
on grasshopper eggs and insect larvae, such as white
grubs.
Robber fly adult female. (321B)
Photo: John Davidson
Robber fly with prey. (W46)
Photo: Whitney Cranshaw
Robber fly adult male. (321C)
Photo: John Davidson
Robber fly adult. (321A)
Photo: John Davidson
IPM of Midwest Landscapes
260